On September 19 as the Grey Cup 100 Train rolled into Calgary for a fan celebration event that would draw close to 4,000 people, I was with some very special fans at the Alberta Children’s Hospital as they received the VIP treatment: a visit from members of the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Calgary Stampeders cheerleading team, team mascot Ralph the Dog and the Grey Cup.

Gathering in the atrium, patients and their parents sat with anticipation in front of a large Cisco screen displaying the Calgary Stampeders logo and two chairs, a sneak peak of what was to come. But first on the list was a picture with the Cup.

The line was long and filled with excited children, and at times even more excited parents, eagerly awaiting their turn to touch the iconic Canadian trophy. Ralph the Dog made his rounds, eliciting a chorus of shrieks and giggles as he licked and pawed the crowd.

As the group settled back in their seats, the children grinned and clutched their photos with the Cup. It was now time to find out what the big screen was all about. Much to the delight of the audience, two members of the Calgary Stampeders appeared on screen to join the party! Using Cisco TelePresence – a high definition immersive video conferencing solution that creates life-like face-to-face meetings – the teammates were beamed into the Alberta Children’s hospital from McMahon Stadium.

The players answered questions ranging from their choice of breakfast to their ability to win the Grey Cup this year. But one question stood out above the rest – “can you dance?” And as one member took center stage, in a dance that can only be described as riding a horse, the group peeled with laughter. It was an incredible experience to see the children so engaged and happy. And judging by the grins and giggles, the players were a big hit!

The day concluded with a chorus of GO STAMPS GO! It was the perfect way to kick-off the Grey Cup 100 Train Tour in Calgary, celebrate Cisco’s partnership with the CFL and a humbling experience for myself and the Cisco staff members that had the opportunity to be there. For two hours, the hospital’s littlest patients – these kids – were just Stampeders fans.

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About Jenn Madden

Jenn Madden is a program manager for Cisco Canada’s Corporate Affairs team. In this role, she is responsible for leading programming in support of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Collaborating with leading non-profits and helping transform the way they work, by leveraging all of Cisco’s networks, is the best part of her job. Jenn is also responsible for leading public relations and social media for Canada’s corporate affairs group. She lov es sharing the stories of the organizations and people that are changing communities, lives and the world – it’s truly inspiring. Jenn Madden est responsable de programme, affaires générales de Cisco Canada. Dans ce rôle, elle est chargée de diriger les programmes de soutien des initiatives de responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE). Jenn est également chargé de diriger les relations publiques et les médias sociaux pour le groupe des affaires corporatives du Canada. Elle aime partager les histoires des organisations et des personnes qui changent les communautés, les vies et le monde – c’est vraiment inspirant.

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